HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESOLUTIONS - 07202004 - 2004 RES 399 THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
Adapted this Resolution on July 20, 2004 by the following vote:
AYES:SUERVISORS GIOIA, UILKEMA, GREENBERG, DESAULNZER AND
GLOVER
NOES: NttN1.
_o
ABSENT: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
RESOLUTION NO, 20041399
SUBJECT:
SUPPORT FOR AMTRAK'S BUDGET REQUEST )
FOR FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR 2005 }
WHEREAS, Contra Costa County has sante of the Bay Area's most congested
highways in Interstate 80, Interstate 580 and State Route 4; and
WHEREAS, the Contra Costa County Beard of Supervisors supports the development
and expansion of alternative modes of travel wherever feasible to provide relief from
highway congestion and vehicle-borne emissions; and
WHER'E'AS, Amtrak provides passenger rail services with 17 daily round trips serving
Contra Costa County, through its own routes and its partnership with state rail services
and the Capital Corridor Joint Powers Authority; and
WHEREAS, these passenger rail services provide an important alternative to the
automobile on the County's congested freeways;and
WHEREAS, Amtrak has survived can less-than-adequate funding in recent years to
provide the necessary degree of service, maintenance and rehabilitation of its facilities;
and
WHEREAS, Amtrak has had to defer numerous capital improvement projects in recent
years due to inadequate funding levels; and
WHEREAS, Contra Costa jurisdictions have made substantial investments in their
passenger rail facilities through construction of the Martinez Intermodal Station,
improvements to the Richmond and Antioch stations, and a planned new station in
Hercules;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Contra Costa County Board of
Supervisors supports Amtrak's request for$1.8 billion in funding for Federal Fiscal Year
2005.
1 hereby certify that this is a true and correct
copy of an action taken and entered on the
minutes of the Hoard of Supervisors on the
date shown.
ATTESTED:. .;
JOHN S TEN, r erk of the Hoard
of SU�ervis rs and County Administrator
Byf--�- — ' .Deputy
(Y
RESOLUTION NO. 20041399
G:\Transportat€on\TW€C\Board Orders\20041TW€C Board Oder 7_20_04 Amtrak res0€ut€on.doo
AMTRAK BUDGET REQUEST FY 05
JULY 12, 2004
Page 2
BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS (Continued)
Contra Costa County is served by 17 passenger trains each day, all involving Amtrak.
They are the Capitol Corridor(11 round trips daily),the San Joaquin(four round trips each
day), the Coast Starlight from Los Angeles to Seattle (once a day), and the California
Zephyr from the Bay Area to Chicago (once a day).
Impacts of Amtrak budget request on Contra Costa passenger service
The Capitol Corridor and San Joaquin trains in particular help reduce the number of
vehicles that would otherwise be on Interstate 80 and State Route 4 each day. Therefore
there could be significant traffic impacts if Amtrak receives substantially less funding than it
is requesting and has to reduce its services. The following information provided by Amtrak
outlines the possible negative impacts on Contra Costa intercity rail service.
Subsidy im acp is for Capitols and San Joaguins. Amtrak jointly shares in funding the
operating loss of the Capitols and the San Joaquins with the State of California. Reduced
funding for Amtrak may reduce its ability to help cover the operating losses for these
routes. This in turn would increase the State's portion of the operating subsidy,which the
state may not be able to absorb. Should this occur, service cuts may be needed.
Impacts on long-distance trains. Amtrak fully funds the long-distance trains that serve
Martinez-the Coast Starlight and the California Zephyr. Reduced funding may result in a
loss of service or deterioration of service. Staffing on the trains, train servicing and
customer amenities could be reduced.
Operation of Amtrak's Oakland Maintenance Facility. Capital funding included in the FY05
request will go to the Oakland Maintenance facility,where the Capitols, San Joaquins,and
the California Zephyr trains all are serviced. Decreased funding may negatively affect
Amtrak's ability to service trains at the Oakland Maintenance Facility. The FY05 request
includes$350,000 for operations of the facility, and$10 million for expansion of the facility
to keep up with maintenance needs.
Impacts on other rail capital voiects. There are a number of state- and freight-funded
capital projects in the works that increase the system's capacity and improve reliability near
or in Contra Costa County that will affect the Amtrak services. While Amtrak does not plan
to contribute monetarily to all of these projects, it often provides services that include
actually doing the work, such as acting as project manager, for example. Any shortfall in
funding that affects Amtrak's ability to perform these functions could in turn affect service
levels in Contra Costa County.
Impacts on marketing. Reduced funding may result in a cut to Amtrak's marketing and
sales budget,which may affect ridership and revenue. Benefits to Contra Costa County of
Amtrak ridership include taking cars off of the roads and bringing dollars into downtown
centers at Martinez and Richmond.
Attached is the draft resolution of support, followed by the full text of Amtrak's funding
request to Congress for Federal Fiscal Year 2005, which begins on October 1, 2004.